Today, I needed to use the big tractor for something. The way I have the tractors parked, I had to get the little one started and moved out of the way first.
So I start the small (diesel) tractor. Slow revving...too cold for the battery to crank it nicely (at least I had the block heater plugged in). So I haul out the battery charger/starter and hook it up. The small tractor spins to life.
Next, I start working on the big tractor. Since it's a gasser, it takes a lot of babying the choke and throttle before it runs nicely...about 10 minutes worth of fussing around! Finally, the big tractor is running and warming up nicely. I turn around to mount up on the little tractor and pull it out of the barn when I look down on the floor, all the hydraulic oil is on the floor!
Busted hydraulic line.
I head to the workshop to grab my tools and see if I have any hydraulic oil for the tractor. All I have is a little more than a gallon...not enough. I repair the hydraulic line (just a loose fitting). By now the big tractor is nice and warmed up, so I shut it down and hop in the truck for the trip to town to get 5 gallons of hydraulic oil. 45 minutes later, I get back home and add oil to the little tractor. Luckily, the big tractor was still nice and warm and it started right up.
Start up the little tractor, and move it out of the way so that I can get the big tractor out.
Mission accomplished....only took 2 hours and 4 gallons of hydraulic oil.
So I start the small (diesel) tractor. Slow revving...too cold for the battery to crank it nicely (at least I had the block heater plugged in). So I haul out the battery charger/starter and hook it up. The small tractor spins to life.
Next, I start working on the big tractor. Since it's a gasser, it takes a lot of babying the choke and throttle before it runs nicely...about 10 minutes worth of fussing around! Finally, the big tractor is running and warming up nicely. I turn around to mount up on the little tractor and pull it out of the barn when I look down on the floor, all the hydraulic oil is on the floor!
Busted hydraulic line.
I head to the workshop to grab my tools and see if I have any hydraulic oil for the tractor. All I have is a little more than a gallon...not enough. I repair the hydraulic line (just a loose fitting). By now the big tractor is nice and warmed up, so I shut it down and hop in the truck for the trip to town to get 5 gallons of hydraulic oil. 45 minutes later, I get back home and add oil to the little tractor. Luckily, the big tractor was still nice and warm and it started right up.
Start up the little tractor, and move it out of the way so that I can get the big tractor out.
Mission accomplished....only took 2 hours and 4 gallons of hydraulic oil.